Rick Weiland on Gun Control

Universal background checks for guns

Here in South Dakota, the only declared Democratic candidate so far is Rick Weiland, a small-business owner who has said he would fight corporate interests. Weiland also favors same-sex marriage and universal background checks for guns, and he is
concerned about the weakening of Social Security and Medicare.

Weiland has the support of his onetime boss, Tom Daschle, the former Senate majority leader (also a South Dakota Democrat), and of the party's more liberal base. But his candidacy has upset
some in the Democratic establishment. Many South Dakota Democrats are hoping for a centrist to compete in a state where the number of registered independents has increased over the past five years. Daschle said he believed that Weiland would be able
to earn the establishment's support. "I've been through this hundreds of times--a candidate has to prove himself or herself before they get support of the [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]. I believe Rick will be able to do that."